Lord Adonis says Theresa May is 'allying with UKIP' on Brexit as he quits Government role

A senior adviser to Theresa May has quit as the chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission over the Government's Brexit plans.

Former transport secretary Lord Adonis claimed the Prime Minister was "allying with UKIP and the Tory hard right" in negotiation plans for Britain's exit from the European Union.

The Europhile Labour peer and infrastructure tsar said he was duty bound to oppose the EU (Withdrawal) Bill when it comes to the House of Lords.

In a resignation letter seen by Sky News, Lord Adonis said: "Brexit is a dangerous populist and nationalist spasm worthy of Donald Trump.

"After the narrow referendum vote, a form of associate membership of the EU might have been attempted without rupturing Britain's key trading and political alliances.

"Instead, by allying with UKIP and the Tory hard right to wrench Britain out of the key economic and political institutions of modern Europe, you are pursuing a course fraught with danger."

:: Read Lord Adonis' letter to PM in full as Labour peer quits Government role

He added: "Brexit is causing a nervous breakdown across Whitehall and conduct unworthy of Her Majesty's Government."

Lord Adonis claimed he would also have felt the need to resign after the "bailout" of the Stagecoach and Virgin East Coast franchise, suggesting it will cost the taxpayer "hundreds of millions of pounds", which he called "more inexcusable given the Brexit squeeze on public spending".

He suggested the bailout was a "cynical political manoeuvre" by his successor Chris Grayling to avoid following his 2009 precedent, which allowed National Express to default, and placed the line into public hands.

National Express was also banned from bidding for new contracts after his move.

Mr Grayling announced a new East Coast partnership for intercity train and track operations in 2020. The partnership had previously agreed to pay £3.3bn to run the service until 2023.

A Government source said the peer, whose frequent criticism of Brexit had caused outrage among Conservative Eurosceptics, had "walked through the door before he was pushed".

After his letter emerged, Lord Adonis tweeted, saying: "I meant what I said in my resignation letter about the PM's courtesy. Which makes it sad that 'No 10 sources' up to dirty tricks."

He also added that a newspaper article this weekend would make it clear why he had to resign.

Lord Adonis was reappointed to his role in April, and avoided being sacked in July, even though he compared Brexit to "Nazi appeasement".

The Commission is a Government-backed body that gives impartial advice to major long-term infrastructure challenges.

Brexiteer Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith told Sky News: "Lord Adonis' departure is long overdue.

"It's a bit rich for him to pontificate on what he calls populism, but what most would refer to as democracy, when he himself has never been elected by a public vote. He has instead relied on preferment from others."

Fellow Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg told Sky News: "It is characteristic of the Blairite dismissiveness of the electorate. Not dangerous, populist and nationalist but arrogant, out of touch and elitist."

Responding, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: "Lord Adonis is one of the most thoughtful politicians around. This is why he has so many friends and political admirers beyond the Labour Party.

"It is, then, a great shame that he is no longer leading Britain's infrastructure programme. Yet he felt there was no other option but to resign because of the way Brexit has been so badly mishandled.

"Notably, he is deeply concerned by how the Conservative leadership has pandered to its right wing over the single market and customs union, leaving which will badly - and needlessly - damage our trade.

"We hope to work closely with Andrew - and Lord Heseltine, another admirable politician who has been so badly treated by the Conservative right - in fighting to end the hard Brexit that the Government is recklessly pursuing."